The Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program at Oregon State University was established in the early 1990s as a means to deliver courses to address cultural and ethnic diversity as well as racism, discrimination, and their origins. The initiating action for the DPD Program was a November 1990 letter from concerned student leaders to OSU President John Byrne proposing several actions in response to recent incidents of discrimination and harassment at OSU. One of these proposals was the development of mandatory courses for all students. In the Spring of 1992, the Faculty Senate approved the incorporation of the Difference, Power, and Discrimination requirement into the Baccalaureate Core, contingent on the development of enough courses. The DPD Program was created to provide faculty with the training and resources to develop or modify courses to meet the DPD criteria; the intent was that courses would address issues of diversity and discrimination not only in society in general, but within specific academic disciplines. Annie Popkin was chosen as the first director in June 1992. By Fall 1994, within two years of its establishment, a sufficient number of DPD courses were in place for the DPD requirement to become a component of the Baccalaureate Core. A comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the Program was conducted in 1998.
In addition to faculty seminars, the DPD Program sponsors guest speakers, film festivals, informal workshops and seminars, and other special events.
The following individuals have served as Director of the DPD Program since its establishment: Annie Popkin (1994), Barbara Paige (1994-1996), Mina Carson (1996-1997), Joan Gross (1998-1999); Susan Shaw (1999-2002), Jun Xing (2002-2011), Michelle Bothwell (2011-2014), and Nana Osi-Kofi (2014- ).
The bulk of the materials were transferred from the Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program in 2015. A small quantity of materials were transferred from Student Affairs in 2012 and incorporated into this collection in 2018.
The following materials were removed from the collection during the course of physical processing and description in 2018: Sound recordings (4 audiocassettes) of 1998 interviews for which there are no signed releases; two TDK microcassettes and one commercial compact disc; 20 computer disks (5.25- and 3.5-inch) that were either unlabeled or identified as content with no long-term historical or administration value; and a rubber stamp with the name of the Program.
Technical accessioning of digital media received with the records resulted in 1.37 Gbytes (1455 files) of born-digital materials. These were reviewed and appraised for long-term administrative and historical value. This review resulted in a 29.5 Mbytes (494 files) of archival born-digital materials that are described as part of the DPD Records.
Born-digital records of Team Liberation were separated to a new collection - Team Liberation Records (RG 287).
We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our
The archivist-prepared description of this collection uses the phrase "Civil War" to refer to the long-standing athletic rivalry between Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. A history of this athletic rivalry, and use of the phrase "Civil War" to describe it, is available
In June 2020, Oregon State University President Edward J. Ray
We acknowledge the racism represented by the use of this phrase and the harm it may cause our users. In order to provide historical context and to enable standardized searching and access across our collections, we have retained the use of this phrase in the collection description.
[Date of acknowledgement: November 2021]
Access to the transcripts and notes for interview with no releases in Series 7, Sub-Series 3 is restricted. All requests for access to this material should be directed to the University Archivist. All other materials in this collection are open for research.
Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program Records (RG 250), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
The Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program Records are a component of the
The Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program Records are arranged in 11 series: 1. Correspondence, 1991-2007; 2. Course Proposals, 1991-2005; 3. Faculty Seminar, 1992-2011; 4. Reports, 1994-2004; 5. Reference Materials, 1970-2007; 6. Committee Records, 1991-2005; 7. Oral History Interviews, 1998; 8. Program Administration, 1991-2005; 9. Publications, 1994-2006; 10. Video and Sound Recordings, 1987-2008; and 11. Born-Digital Materials, 1997-1998.
The Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program Records document the establishment and functioning of the DPD Program at Oregon State University as well as the topics of diversity, discrimination, racism, minority students and faculty, and women in higher education. The records pertain to curriculum development and pedagogy at Oregon State University specific to diversity and multicultural education as well as undergraduate education generally in all academic disciplines.
The records include materials documenting program administration, course proposals, committees, and the annual faculty seminar. Reports that are specific to the DPD Program and pertain to broader issues of diversity and equity at Oregon State are included. Reference materials that were assembled by the DPD Program as resources and reference materials for administration, teaching, and course development are part of the collection. These materials document specific incidents, racism, diversity and discrimination, recruitment and retention of minority faculty and students, and the role of women and minorities in science.
A 1998 review and evaluation of the DPD Program is comprehensively documented in the collection – especially a series of oral history interviews conducted by students in an anthropology class of other Oregon State students regarding DPD courses.
The collection also includes promotional publications, the Program's newsletter
Born-digital records are available to researchers in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center Reading Room.
Series 1 consists of correspondence received and sent by the DPD Program director and affiliated faculty, including Lani Roberts, Susan Shaw, Joan Gross, and Barbara Paige. Much of the correspondence is printed e-mail messages. The correspondence pertains to program administration, including budgets; workshops and publications; and DPD courses. This series includes born digital materials (4 files; 23 kbytes) that are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Correspondence from DPD Director Barbara Paige regarding textbooks, course proposals, and other administrative matters. This folder includes 4 files (all Word documents) totaling 23 kbytes.
Series 2 consists of course proposals and associated documentation submitted to the Baccalaureate Core Committee. The proposals address how courses meet the criteria established by the Faculty Senate for DPD courses within the Baccalaureate Core curriculum. Lists of DPD courses, syllabi, and review materials are included in this series. This series includes born digital materials (4 files; 33 kbytes) that are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Correspondence pertaining to the approval of DPD courses and a proposal for HST 368X. These born digital materials (4 files; 33 kbytes) are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 3 consists of records of the faculty seminar offered annually in the summer as an intensive 3-week seminar. The purpose of the seminar is to help faculty transform their curricula in light of issues of difference, power, and discrimination. This series includes outlines for the seminar, readings, applications from faculty to participate in the seminar, and evaluations. Materials documenting a seminar for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) in September 2001 are also included. The series includes born digital materials (61 files; 1.8 Mbytes) that are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Includes Linn-Benton Seminar
Correspondence, publicity, evaluation, and resources documenting seminars and training offered to faculty for developing DPD courses. These born-digital records (56 files; 1.5 Mbytes) consist primarily of Word documents and also include Microsoft Publisher files, and Excel spreadsheets. The records are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Materials documenting a seminar of graduate teaching assistants offered in September. These born-digital records (5 files; 335 kbytes) are primarily Word documents and one Publisher file. The materials are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 4 consists of reports prepared or received by the DPD Program and includes DPD annual reports for 1993-1994, 1996-1997, and 1998. The 1999 report of the assessment of the DPD program that was conducted in 1998 is also part of this series. The assessment report includes copies of initiating and founding documents for the Program as appendices. Reports pertaining to recruitment, retention, equity, and parity for women and minority faculty are also part of this series. Born digital materials (3 files; 26 kbytes) are available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Annual reports of the DPD Program for 1993-1994 and 1998 and correspondence pertaining to the 1998 report. These born-digital materials (3 files; 26 kbytes) consist of 2 Word Perfect files and one Word document. The materials are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 5 consists of materials assembled by the DPD Program as resources and reference materials for administration, teaching, and course development. The materials include reports, published articles, planning documents for other OSU units, newspaper clippings, and related documentation and correspondence. The reference materials address a myriad of topics including diversity and discrimination, minority faculty and students, racism, women, and the role of women and minorities in science. The series includes born-digital materials (7 files; 7.7 Mbytes) that are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
HEW: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
HEW: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
General references.
African American student recruitment.
Agenda and presentation for the Oregon State Service-Learning Faculty Seminar on May 11, 2007, "Developing a Scholarship of Engagement and Social Justice", presented by Jan Shoemaker, Director of the Louisiana State University Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership. These born digital materials (7 files; 7.7 Mbytes) consist of one Word document and 6 Powerpoint files. The materials are available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 6 consists of the records of the Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program Advisory Board; the Faculty Senate Difference, Power, and Discrimination Task Force; and other Oregon State University committees and councils pertaining to diversity. Records of a committee to develop courses affirming diversity, that precedes the formal establishment of the DPD Program, are also part of this series. The materials in this series include minutes, agendas, meeting notes, and related documentation and correspondence.
Series 7 consists of sound recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted as a review and assessment of the DPD Program in 1998.This series consists of 3 sub-series: 1. Sound Recordings; 2. Releases, Transcripts, and Notes; and 3. Transcripts and Notes for Interviews without Releases. The materials within each sub-series are arranged by the interviewer.
The interviews were conducted by students in Joan Gross' Oral Traditions course (ANTH 498/598) during fall term of 1998; the interviewees were other Oregon State University students who had completed a DPD course. The semi-structured interviews gathered information about students' perception of the goals of the DPD Program, their knowledge of diversity and discrimination issues before and after taking a DPD course, and their assessment of the course and the program overall.
The sound recordings are cassette tapes and are available for listening in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center Reading Room.
Transcripts and notes are available for many of the interviews. Transcripts and notes for interviews without releases are restricted. There are several sound recordings that include interviews with individuals for whom there are no releases; these are indicated in the list below.
The data and conclusions reached from these interviews are summarized in the 1999 assessment report in Series 4.
Includes Follow-up
Interviewed with an individual for whom there is no release.
Includes interviews with individuals for whom there are no releases.
Includes interview with individual for whom there is no release.
Includes interview with an individual for whom there is no release.
Includes interview with individual for whom there is no release.
Interviewed with an individual for whom there is no release.
Also known as Anthony
Series 9 documents the administration of the program and includes enrollment data, budgets, position descriptions for the program director and staff, proposals, lists of faculty who have completed the DPD faculty seminar or teach DPD courses, and surveys and evaluations of the program. Materials documenting a 2004 celebration of the DPD Program at Oregon State are part of this series. Also of note is a 2003 presentation to the Provost's Council. This series includes born-digital materials (174 files; 3.8 Mbytes) that are available to researchers in the Reading Room.
Faculty who have completed the DPD Seminar and/or teach DPD courses.
Difference, Power, and Discrimination
Materials documenting the administration of the DPD Programs including planning for special events, budgets, meeting minutes, assessments and evaluations, and correspondence. Of special note is a 2003 presentation to the Provost's Council. These born digital materials 120 files; 2.5 Mbytes) are primarily Word documents; other formats include Word Perfect, Excel, and Powerpoint files. Several images are also part of this digital folder.
Materials documenting DPD courses. These born digital materials (39 files; 763 kbytes) are all Word documents. The materials are available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Essays submitted by DPD faculty. These digital materials (4 files; 29 kbytes) are all Word documents. The materials are available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Instructions prepared by DPD staff to document administrative and office operations. These born-digital materials (11 files; 581 kbytes) consist of Word documents and one Microsoft Publisher file. The records are available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 10 consists of publications documenting the administration and activities of the DPD Program. It includes
This series also includes flyers, brochures, and posters -- including a poster promoting the lecture presented by Nikki Giovanni as the OSU DPD Distinguished Lecturer and Keynote Speaker for the Conference on Gender and Culture held in April 2002.
Born-digital materials (24 files; 2.8 Mbytes) in this series include the Fall 2000
Manuscript of the book,
Fall 2000 issue of the DPD newsletter. This digital folder consists of one Microsoft Publisher file (721 kbytes) and is available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Writing for Change: Raising Awareness of Difference, Power, and Discrimination, 2nd Edition, by Janet Lockhart and Susan M. Shaw. This digital folder includes one PDF file (474 kbytes) that is available for researchers in the Reading Room.
Series 10 consists of recordings of Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program Distinguished Lectures at Oregon State University by Nikki Giovanni (2002) and Gloria Anzaldua (2003); a radio program about Audre Lorde, and two ABC News 20/20 programs. The radio and ABC News programs may have been used in training and workshops offered by the DPD Program. The lectures by
This radio profile first aired on WGBH radio in Boston in February 1987. This audiocassette was prepared by Profile Productions. Jennifer Abod was producer and narrator.
2 VHS tapes
Recorded at LaSells Stewart Center on April 18, 2002. The sound quality of the original recording is poor. This videotape has been digitized and is available
Recorded on April 24, 2003. Leslie Burns introduced the speaker and Jubilate, a women's choir in Corvallis, performed before the lecture -- Geography of Selves: Identity and the New Tribalism. This videotape has been digitized and is available
2 DVDs
Broadcast on January 26, 2007.
Broadcast on September 10, 2008.
Series 11 consists of born-digital materials captured on April 18, 2008 as a back-up of http://oregonstate.edu/dept/dpd. The records include electronic versions of the ReVisions newsletter, administrative program files, materials pertaining to the faculty seminar, and associated documentation and correspondence. The bulk of the materials are for 2002-2008. The original arrangement of these materials is retained. File formats include *.html, Word documents, Microsoft Publisher files, PDFs, and images. These materials (217 files; 13.6 Mbytes) are available for researchers in the Reading Room.